From SILKEN HOTELS, we have organized the first electric vehicle road trip in Mercedes-Benz cars through Euskadi to showcase the DNA and philosophy of our hotel chain with a clear Basque accent to six national media outlets from Madrid and Málaga. The company has 27 establishments, six of which are located in Euskadi, spread across Bilbao, Vitoria-Gasteiz, San Sebastián, Durango, Lekeitio, and Laguardia.
Why are we doing this trip with Mercedes-Benz?
At SILKEN HOTELS, we are committed to sustainability in our hotels while making them places of rest, energy recharge, and great gastronomy. SILKEN HOTELS is a committed company that invested 25 million euros during the pandemic in concepts related to improving its establishments and sustainability. For this reason, among other initiatives, our hotels are equipped with electric vehicle chargers. Mercedes-Benz, one of the world leaders in the move towards sustainable mobility, and Silken Hoteles have come together on this press trip at the forefront of sustainability, fighting to stop climate change and the rational and efficient use of energy. During this three-day trip, we visited hotels in magical and postcard-like places such as Durango, Lekeitio, and Laguardia, and made a final stop in the city where our headquarters are located, Vitoria-Gasteiz, to close this first road trip.
SILKEN HOTELS is the only national chain with its headquarters in the Basque Country (in Vitoria-Gasteiz), which is why this first road trip had to start on the roads of Euskadi. Furthermore, we are a collaborating space with Basquetour, the Basque Government's agency that promotes the E-Basque Route, the first national tourist route prepared for electric vehicles.
We are more than just hotels; we are sustainable, charming establishments where you can rest and enjoy local gastronomy. That’s why we like to emphasize the history of the palatial buildings in some of our hotels, the SPA and wellness spaces in Durango or Laguardia, and the cozy thermal pool in Lekeitio. Ready to discover them?
The journey in our brand-new Mercedes-Benz EQA started at Silken Puerta Madrid. This model is the new 100% electric SUV from Mercedes-Benz, a gem that allows you to move around the city with just one weekly charge, with over 400 kilometers of range, charging in 32 minutes at fast-charging stations, and emitting zero grams of CO2.
At Silken Puerta Madrid, thanks to the available charging points at the hotel, we ensured a 100% battery start and embarked on a worry-free trip. The entire team underwent antigen tests to ensure safety during the journey, and we started with a delicious breakfast that this business-focused establishment prepared to recharge our batteries, as food is one of the chain's strong points. Its privileged location, just steps from National 2, allowed us to get on the road without any issues.
Wednesday, June 8, what better way to start the month than with a press trip? That's what our six invited journalists thought when they experienced this first journey. Discovering our roots, with good food, good wine, and in the most sustainable way possible. That’s why our first stop before reaching Euskadi was in the heart of La Rioja Alta, specifically at this beautiful family-owned winery of four generations, Señorío de Villarrica, a vineyard paradise with a long history. This luxurious winery was founded in 1860 by the great-grandparents of the current four owners, who are also siblings, and that good harmony is felt in every space. Here, the group was welcomed by Valeria Grygiel, communication manager of SILKEN HOTELS, who was the perfect guide on this first journey. The almost 110 hectares of this winery are spread across the towns of San Asensio, Briones, Haro, Anguciana, Sajazarra, Bañares, and Hervías. Our guests had the chance to discover all the work and love that goes into those wine bottles stored in carefully crafted barrels. And of course, they enjoyed a great meal with typical Rioja dishes: stewed potatoes with chorizo and a good roast lamb washed down with their gem, Delicia de Baco, a perfect pairing.
Next stop? Silken Villa de Laguardia, the famous medieval town hosts our hotel, a 84-room establishment decorated in Provençal style, with a magnificent terrace and pool.
Upon our arrival, representatives from the Mercedes-Benz dealership in Vitoria were waiting for us and provided us with two more vehicles from the same electric car range. Our peculiar caravan was joined by the EQB, which meets the highest expectations for its safety and comfort level, and the EQE, the most cutting-edge jewel in its segment.
Once at the hotel, Silken Villa de Laguardia features an incredible 1,000 m2 spa. The spa offers treatments with wine and olive oil, making the most of the properties of its ingredients. Among the standout services of the Wine Oil Spa, we found several massages, facial treatments, circuits, special baths, and wraps, which the journalists were able to enjoy.
Juan Félix Fernández de Miguel, the hotel director, who joined the SILKEN HOTELS family this past January, welcomed the press in one of the most beautiful spaces in the hotel, its cellar, where he presented various local wines and a wine of the year that captivated everyone present, masterfully highlighting the good work of both small and large wineries. After this small tasting, we went to the hotel's restaurant, where the gastronomy surprised the diners. Ten out of ten for their artichokes with Iberian ham and foie, and their bacalao a la riojana. An unforgettable dinner where many tried Goxua, a traditional Basque dessert, for the first time.
Ready for the second day? We didn’t sleep much, but we did enjoy one of the most magical experiences of our lives. And we all agreed on that. Check out from Silken Villa de Laguardia to head to our hot air balloon ride, seeing the sunrise over vineyards and medieval towns, and even overcoming all our fears to bond even more as a team, making this first SILKEN HOTELS road trip unforgettable. That early wake-up was worth it (we went up almost 2,000 meters!) and after a typical Rioja breakfast with fried eggs, tomato, and cold cuts, we set course for Lekeitio, a beautiful fishing village located on the coast of Bizkaia, more like a postcard, and where Silken Palacio Uribarren is located.
Situated in an unbeatable location, Silken Palacio Uribarren offers privileged views over the sea, the slopes of the Lumentza and Otoio mountains, the imposing Santa María de la Asunción basilica, which houses the third largest Gothic altarpiece in the entire peninsula, after those of Seville and Toledo, and the famous San Nicolás Island, which can be accessed by walking when the tide is low. The combination of all these elements makes Lekeitio one of the most beautiful spots on the Basque coast, and we had the privilege of enjoying it also from a boat ride that we will definitely repeat.
But that’s not all, we also enjoyed a typical Basque meal in a txoko with sea views, of which the hotel is a partner. Our host was César Navarro Espallargas, the hotel director, who treated the group with delightful familiarity. The chef of our establishment took care of the kitchen, delighting us with his fish dishes and his exquisite preparation of red shrimp.
Before continuing our journey to Durango, Basquetour, the Basque tourism agency, explained to our journalists the project ‘The E-Basque Route’, a responsible way to travel through the Basque Country with the least possible environmental impact, like our press trip. From Lekeitio, we went directly to Durango for dinner and to spend the night at Silken Gran Hotel Durango, a charming early 20th-century palace converted into a hotel, located within a beautiful valley at the foot of the Urquiola Natural Park, just a short distance from the three Basque capitals. But not only did we sleep, our guests also enjoyed another relaxing afternoon at Durango Sport Club & Spa by Metropolitan, which features a thermal circuit, a sauna, a Turkish bath, and a sequential shower. Dinner was enjoyed in the company of the hotel’s director, Alfredo López Castro, and we still remember the octopus, stone-cooked meat, and their delicious sorbet.
To start the third and final day, we had a full breakfast at Silken Gran Hotel Durango, with fruits, breads, cold cuts, pastries, and all kinds of options for our gluten-free or intolerant guests. We successfully recharged our batteries just like the Mercedes-Benz electric vehicles that accompanied us on this adventure and that we successfully recharged at each hotel. Last stop? We couldn’t leave without discovering the Valle Salado de Añana, in Álava, the world’s oldest active salt factory. Yes, you heard it right, inland salt from the Tertiary period and a wonderful substrate of seabed that nourishes the local river. The current archaeological site is a world treasure of industrial heritage. We fell in love with its outdoor hand and foot baths and returned with Añana salt, which is marketed by the Valle Salado Foundation as a souvenir.
After enjoying ourselves like children and discovering all the secrets of salt, we headed to Vitoria-Gasteiz, our last stop before heading back to Madrid. We did so by visiting Silken Ciudad de Vitoria for a quick and exquisite meal before saying goodbye to this wonderful group of journalists who joined us on this first Mercedes-Benz road trip through Euskadi. Its director, Leyre Aramburu Vadillo, gave us a guided tour of the hotel, its cozy indoor garden, and told us about the upcoming Jazz Festival in the city, of which the hotel is a venue. Our fleet of Mercedes-Benz electric vehicles took us back to Madrid, leaving us wanting more, and thus we successfully closed our first road trip through Euskadi, which had it all: winery, balloon ride, boat trip, salt flats, and above all, great gastronomy and charming establishments with a team always dedicated to our visitors.
Ready for the next trip?
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